Plant trees despite drought?

[Anonymous]

I’d love to plant a few young trees but will there water usage restricts if DMV is in a drought?

Maybe I’ll just feel guilty using water.

But if I could get over that - is this year as good as any? Doesn’t seem like water level will improve ie thud is the new normal.

[Anonymous]

Plant in the fall. My established trees are dying from the drought.

[Anonymous]

I planted four trees after having to cut down one that was dying. I water about every third day right now. Should I feel bad about this? Not really. I have stopped mowing my grass.

You should plant new trees in the spring according to conventional wisdom. You need the trees to get established.

[Anonymous]

Where is this drought? Seems like it rains all the time.

Is it raining more often but less each time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is this drought? Seems like it rains all the time.

Is it raining more often but less each time?

In Fairfax County, total rainfall last 3 months is very far below normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I planted four trees after having to cut down one that was dying. I water about every third day right now. Should I feel bad about this? Not really. I have stopped mowing my grass.

You should plant new trees in the spring according to conventional wisdom. You need the trees to get established.

Hmm. Conventional wisdom used to be to plant in early fall. I guess times change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this drought? Seems like it rains all the time.

Is it raining more often but less each time?

In Fairfax County, total rainfall last 3 months is very far below normal.

It's been a bit wetter the last two weeks. That makes it seem like it is raining "all the time."

[Anonymous]

I plant trees in the fall but for this particular question, meteorologists are calling for a Super El Nino this year, so the drought is probably at an end.

[Anonymous]

Plant native trees. You don't have to water as much, and they are really good for the environment

[Anonymous]

Are we still in a drought with yesterday’s torrential downpour? I think we got a solid two inches of rain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we still in a drought with yesterday’s torrential downpour? I think we got a solid two inches of rain.

My weather station said 0.5” and nearby KDAA says 0.6".

[Anonymous]

I have 5 rules of planting trees in my yard.

1. Choose mostly native trees.

2. The - location, sun light, (grade) slope, soil - should be optimum for the tree.

3. Dig the right sized hole and amend the soil correctly. After that dig a wide bed around the tree and dig the bed at least 6 inches deep (especially if its poor soil), so that can be filled with leaf-gro and then topped with mulch. This will act like a sponge and keep moisture in the soil. Water deeply so you have soaked the surrounding soil. Do not mulch heavily around the trunk. A very light mulch is fine.

4. If it is a "thirsty" tree - like birch or willow - xeriscape where you are planting the tree, so that the rainwater gets harvested.

5. Use a tree watering bag. This will water the tree in a slow drip that will allow the water to soak into the soil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 5 rules of planting trees in my yard.

1. Choose mostly native trees.

2. The - location, sun light, (grade) slope, soil - should be optimum for the tree.

3. Dig the right sized hole and amend the soil correctly. After that dig a wide bed around the tree and dig the bed at least 6 inches deep (especially if its poor soil), so that can be filled with leaf-gro and then topped with mulch. This will act like a sponge and keep moisture in the soil. Water deeply so you have soaked the surrounding soil. Do not mulch heavily around the trunk. A very light mulch is fine.

4. If it is a "thirsty" tree - like birch or willow - xeriscape where you are planting the tree, so that the rainwater gets harvested.

5. Use a tree watering bag. This will water the tree in a slow drip that will allow the water to soak into the soil.

As we move into summer, I am just going to connect my new trees to my drip irrigation network.